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Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 14 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Tell me about a recent challenge you experienced. How did you learn and grow from it?

I’ve been sitting here trying to think of what to write…I am truly at a loss this time. I know I have faced challenges currently and in the past, but just can’t think or write about any of them.

All I can think about is our Balboa, who we recently lost. I knew there would be a day this would happen…but never expected it so soon. He was my baby before I thought I could have a child. He refused to believe he was a dog, he thought he was our baby…and he knew we were his parents. It’s going to take a long time for us to stop crying and accept that he is gone. Perhaps one day we will adopt another dog, perhaps when we won’t compare him/her to Balboa, because that’s not fair.

We were in Florida just last week. It was a wonderful trip for our son. Hubby and I went with my parents, but it was bittersweet as our sick Balboa was boarding at the vet. We DID have a good time, Dino got to experience and remember Disney…last time he was just one years old.

We sure did luck out, it was cloudy and rainy. How is that lucky? Disney is flipping hot with little cover from the sun. So having rain and clouds make the heat somewhat tolerable.

Dino got on quite a bit of rides and got to see the parade. He loved every minute of his time in Disney. He also got to see family in Florida…he was so happy to see all his cousins.

See? Bittersweet vacation, while we had a great time we knew Balboa was sick, then it turned out he was sicker than we originally thought.

I think we will always remember our Disney trip as the one where we lost Balboa.

The challenge is…

getting back into our routine without Balboa

dealing with never kissing him goodbye each time we leave

never getting welcomed home with snorting love and kisses

never worrying about how long we’ll be gone or when to get home to take him out

passing by the pet isles knowing I don’t need to buy anything

getting used to the silence…no grunts, snorts, or slobbers

helping Dino understand that Mommy and Daddy are not dying

helping Dino understand that Balboa is happy and pain free in heaven with all the other angel dogs

helping Dino understand that while Balboa may visit us or send signs, he is not coming back to life or going to scare us as a ghost

not having a dog to alert me to noises and people on my property (even though he would probably play with anyone…I felt safe knowing he was always aware of any sounds or people)

making a peanut butter sandwich or apple with peanut butter and not having to give Balboa some in his chew chew

not having to share my food every time I eat

dealing with a hole in our hearts and an emptiness in our house

I am trying to figure out how to learn and grow from this. One day we’ll be doggie parents again. Right now we will never get another French Bulldog, because Balboa was beyond exceptional…no other Frenchie could compare and we would always hold them up to Balboa’s standards.

We will adopt a doggie in the future…a young dog, who needs love and would be okay with a wild and loud boy. We will adopt a doggie, who needs a forever home and wants to be loved, spoiled, and treated like a member of the family. We will adopt a doggie who will always have a Frenchie guardian angel.

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

My subject is “You get stranded on an uninhabited, tropical island with little/no amenities. How do you survive?”. It was submitted byhttp://www.someoneelsesgenius.com Here goes:

We are going to Florida this summer, when? Well you will find out after we return. I am too nervous to post about being stranded. I tried to come up with some cute stories…but just couldn’t. Instead I wrote about what I would eat…

I think we should start eating like we ARE living on a deserted island. We should start living and eating like we did BEFORE companies started creating chemicals and poisons that are hidden in the “food” they sell. Yes, I was a mom who had countless coupons and would smile with glee when I could buy almost everything with coupons. The faster, easier, and cheaper the “food” products were, the more I would buy. But then my eyes were opened to the dangers.

In just a short time I feel better, my hair dresser said my hair is super shiny, my occasional acne is clearing up, my stomach issues are slowly disappearing. I used to think I could never eat nuts…now I can’t live without almonds, cashews, walnuts, and granola. I used to think those foods made me sick, but in reality it was the low fat, fat free, and processed foods that were making me sick.

People are fighting companies to list all the GMO genetically modified ingredients in the products they sell. We are fighting for them to admit they are selling poisons and creating allergies and diseases at an alarming rate. Yes, people who buy the products and fast foods are responsible. But when so are the companies who promote to little kids and overload you with their marketing. Just like the cigarette companies tried to make smokers believe cigarettes were safe, that is what GMO food production companies are doing.

Vermont is being sued by the Grocery Manufacturers Association because they passed a law regarding NON-GMO foods in their state. Food companies can submit all the tests they want. The simple fact is…if GMOs are safe, why aren’t they promoted and listed on packages. These companies are all bullies and loving that people are willingly buying these fake foods.

If I could, I would grow my own food. Instead I buy organic, local, and NON-GMO food. Instead I make sure Dino knows the NON-GMO verified label and the USDA Organics label. Instead I make sure that Dino eats real foods, not the fake natural label that is used to trick consumers.

Don’t get me wrong…there are MANY frozen foods, almond and coconut ice creams, desserts, and snacks we eat…I don’t deprive myself, I just make sure they are NON-GMO verified. I can’t stand the taste of fake foods, it’s horribly obvious and leaves me feeling icky. You soon realize what real food tastes like and wonder what you have really been eating.

Imagine how fit I would be too…there would be no TV, no computers, no reason to sit on our butts. We would have to always be working and moving…seems like the more technology and conveniences we have, the unhealthier we get. Imagine if

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

What a great prompt!!!

Since I have been writing about healthy eating, this is perfect. You can check out my previous posts on my organic and NON-GMO meal plans HERE.

Then I have to think about my WILD 5yr old dinosaur at home and a hubby that is VERY picky and often chooses to eat the unhealthy foods.

Taking all this into consideration, my meal would be…EVERY PART OF THE MEAL WOULD BE MADE FROM ORGANIC AND NON-GMO FOODS

Homemade dinosaur chicken nuggets – I would ground raw chicken, some veggies, fresh herbs (cilantro, dill, and onion), and other spices. I would section the ground chicken mixture into balls then shape into various dinosaurs (of course my ability to create tyrannosaurus rex, velociraptor, spinosaurus, stegosaurus, triceratops, pterodactyl, and ankylosaurus would be spot on). Then I would amazingly and beautifully coat the shapes with panko and cococut shreds, bake at 350 for about thirty minutes and they would be PERFECT for any carnivorous dinosaur.

Couscous with carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli –using the dry couscous from the bulk section I would boil the couscous then leave on the side. Then I would coat the veggies in seasoning and fresh herbs (cilantro, dill, rosemary, and onion). After the veggies are cooked, I would mix them with the couscous and serve for any hungry herbivores.

Fruit Salad- Depending on what they have already cut at Whole Foods, or I would cut them myself. I would have Dino’s favorite fruits right now…pineapple, cantaloupe, and watermelon. Though they should be eaten carefully…as they are dinosaur waste.

Lemon and lime flavored water – we all need to drink, why not some stinky dinosaur pee?

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I think Dino would get a huge kick out of eating like a carnivore and herbivore. Even better as he gets to eat dinosaur poop and pee…what boy wouldn’t get a HUGE kick out of having a dinner like that!

Perhaps one day I will do this…and post about it. Perhaps this summer would be the perfect time to experiment with making homemade chicken nuggets?

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

OMG I LOVE THIS PROMPT. I have LOTS of answers for this one!

I am facing a summer of getting stronger and healthier and I am eating non-GMO foods and going to the gym.

I lost TONS of inches as I build muscles and post about my healthy updates every Saturday. Muscles weigh more but take up less space…so hence the shrinking in sizes. I know I am going to rock this summer. I am going to run, play, swim, and be happily active with my son. I actually am looking forward to going to the beach…weird, right?

Want to read about these healthy eating and getting stronger posts? You can find them all here

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I am facing a summer of saving money and I am finally going to be able to buy something for my son or myself without having to worry about “next paycheck”.

Without paying gas for commuting and only paying three days of daycare, that extra money is going into savings. Next year when Dino is in kindergarten, that money saved on daycare will go towards bills and savings.

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I am facing a summer of organizing my blog and I am going to update pages and the schedule.

Blogs always change as the writer’s life changes. I want to update the pages bar to include my healthy recipes, exercises, books, Dinosaur’s stories and posts, and …..

Any suggestions?

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I am facing a summer of organizing my recipes and I want a box or book of HEALTHY, organic and non-GMO recipes.

I have done this over the past…but really want one to reflect a healthier lifestyle. Maybe creating sheets with ideas for each time of meat/meatless meals. I enjoy making up or changing recipes as I go along…so having the ability to just get ideas might be better than recipes.

How do you organize your recipes? Seriously, I need ideas!

I only have two months…so I better get started NOW!

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 14 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

My subject is If you had to watch one movie or TV series over and over forever, what would it be and why. It was submitted byhttp://www.someoneelsesgenius.com Here goes:

I remember watching the movie Parenthood and loving it as a kid. I knew families were crazy, weird, loving, protective, and annoying. I knew it was going to be just as crazy when I had a kid, but I looked forward to it.

Then as an adult and parent…Parenthood became a TV series!!! I was scared they were going to ruin it, but they did such an amazing job with the show. It is real life, real families, real situations and decisions. They depict everyday life of parents and kids without going over the top or making it unbelievable.

Not only would I watch this show every day and night, but I would love to hang out with the Braverman’s.

Right now I think Joel needs a good junk punch. Seriously, grow up dude. I know Julia lost her way, but you left her emotionally. She didn’t cheat on you, she hung out with a friend. If the friend was a female it would be okay, but because the friend was a guy it was wrong? She was always there for you when she worked, but you left her behind when she needed you most. Now she has to bend to your will. I hope she does move on and Joel can see what a dummy he was/is.

I would tell Adam and Kristina to hire a lawyer and fight for Max. That school is not doing right by him. As a teacher who works in special education this is wrong and completely messed up. No school should get away with this. They are allowing him to be bullied and not put his education first. That school’s administration should be all shamed and fired.

I would tell Sarah to give Ray another chance. She has pure bad luck with men and love, Ray is the best thing for her. He is stable and dependable and will always be there for her. He will understand and complete her craziness.

Crosby sure has come a long way, so glad him and Jasmine are in a good place right now. What a beautiful family they have and Jasmine knows just how to deal with his occasional immaturity.

Amber is making good decisions and needs to continue on road that leads to even better decisions. She doesn’t need a man to make her whole, but will find a MAN that accepts and compliments her.

Drew just wanted a solid and good girlfriend, but one wants to live a free lifestyle and the other was beyond depressed. So glad he got away from that wackadoo roommate and crazy lady. He needs to focus on himself and the right woman will find him.

I would love to hang out at Zeke and Camille’s house for dinner. Just to listen to their conversations and current dramas would be awesome. They make you feel at home and accept you just for who you are. They yell, shout, criticize, and tease…but love with all their hearts. Just like real life families.

So this is what I would watch always and forever. It’s real life, it’s real situations, it’s REAL. Any teen, parent, grandparent, friend, husband, wife, aunt, uncle, daughter, or son can relate to at least one of the characters.

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 14 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

So many possibilities came to me? What would I buy? Would it be organic? Would it be the most expensive seafood on the planet? Would it be Mexican? hmmm

Would I make plans to go out with my family to the most expensive restaurant in town and get service that would put all other restaurants to shame.

I thought long and hard then realized I am not really a fancy type of girl. I love a bargain, love saving money and always having extra food.

I decided to go to our local specialty pizza joint in town and have a nice dinner there…BUT…I would also order one of everything and have it wrapped up to go home.

YES! THAT’S RIGHT! I would have it all wrapped up, the prompt did say “unlimited amount of money”, so we’d eat our meal then have TONS of pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, seafood, entrees, and desserts. The food would be endless. I would section them up and save them in freezer bags. We would eat like royalty every weekend for months. Yes only on the weekends, I want to make this food last.

Just look at how decadent their food looks and it tastes even better.

I did tell you LAST WEEK I am frugal, though I don’t always make the best decisions or know the best prices on things other than food and coupons. LOL

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

This was such a perfect prompt for me…if you know me at all I HATE THE SUMMER

POSITIVES OF WINTER:

Dressing Warm: If you dress properly you will always be warm…if you dress like you want to show off the goods or refuse to wear a hat then you deserve to be cold.

CROCHETING: More reasons to crochet and create blankets, scarves, and hats to keep you warm. If you know me you know my hate for all things heat related. I HATE the heat! I just can’t cool off in the winter. I sweat something pretty awful, I’m a dripping mess. While others are just hot, I’m dripping sweat like the devil’s taint.

SNOW DAYS: Okay I travel a ways to get to work and don’t always get snow days or late starts, but when I do it’s golden.

SWEAT: No need to sweat like a pig in heat. No matter how high you turn up the AC, it never does the trick and the sun beats down on me through the windows of the car. I step out of the car, even after a ten minute drive, in sweat-drenched clothes and feeling nasty as ever.

SNOW FUN: Lots of fun things to do in the snow…heck even making your child walk around and shovel in their snow suits wears them out.

NO DAILY SHAVING: No need to shave every flipping day. Yes, I groom and keep myself from looking like Chewbacca, but I HATE having to shave my legs, under arms, and bikini every flipping day. See I am an Italian woman with dark hair. If I get it waxed it has to grow VERY long for that to happen…NO FLIPPING WAY. So the best thing to do is to just shave…and did I mention I have super sensitive skin that does not like to be shaved every day…

OUTSIDE FRIDGE: If you lost power, you can just stick the food in coolers out in the snow.

NEGATIVES OF WINTER:

TOO MANY LAYERS: Lots of layers just to stay warm and have to take off coat in car so I don’t feel like a stuffed burrito. Fall and Spring is perfect car weather.

DRY SKIN: and achy joints from all the cold weather. I’m talking that hideous, dry skin that makes you feel like the crypt keeper.

DRIVING: Driving to school on horrible roads scared to death I am going to get hit by a speeding moron in a monster truck who thinks he above all rules of safety. Or driving down the highway only to get hit by someone by a block of snow because a jerk of all arrogant jerks refused to clean off his or her car. My favorite season to drive…Fall…all those beautiful colors.

STUCK INSIDE: Being stuck inside due to terrible weather. If you do go out and brave the mall or bounce houses it’s filled with kids whose parents have just given up and refuse to discipline them in any way. You all know how crazy I get about that, so it’s just best to avoid those situations. I love playing with Dino in the fall and spring.

NO SUNLIGHT: Not being able to sit out in the sunlight (on cool days 70 degrees and below preferably) and enjoy the natural light. Do I mean a tan? NOPE, I am the one at the beach hiding under the blanket because I don’t like the sun on my skin. I love the sunlight, but not the sun on me. I am quite happy being pale.

NO POWER: If you lose power, you will FREEZE!!!! Not a nice feeling, LOL. You can make it through no power in the fall and spring.

CONCLUSION:

Okay so there are quite a few things I love and hate about winter…but I will always choose Winter over summer. Winter is the farthest season from the horrible heat of the summer. Don’t get me wrong, winter is not my first choice though…Fall and Spring are. Sure I’m in the minority regarding the warm weather, but if I didn’t sweat something awful and feel so gross as soon as I get out of bed I might have a different attitude. It’s a terrible feeling to be the one dripping sweat while everyone just stares at you wondering what the hell is wrong with you.

How about you? What do you love and hate about winter? Which season
would you choose over all the others? .

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

My subject is “Falling asleep in front of the TV, you wake to find yourself living in your favorite Christmas movie or TV special (from any decade). Which one are you in, and how do you spend the day?” It was submitted by http://www.homeonderanged.com Here goes:

WOW…what a great prompt…I knew immediately what Christmas Movie I wanted to be in…Love Actually! I JUST LOVE that movie…especially the ending…wow. Now how would I spend the day? Well, I tried to write this a million times and just couldn’t come up with a plan without destroying the movie and since I love it so much I couldn’t do that. I know I have issues. In the end I decided to show my favorite parts of the movie, and which characters I would like to be.

The ending…one month later at the airport

But let’s not forget the song before that…one of my favorite Christmas songs…All I Want for Christmas…

I can’t help but dance around the room like a fool

If I HAD to hang with one of the characters, then it would be Natalie and David. Why? Well, she is who she is and doesn’t make any apologies. She’s curvy, loves life, and is so flipping cute. She gets the man who everyone else wants…and how does she get him? By just being herself. Bet they are a couple that just loves each other and ignores all the negativity…for they have love and that is all that matters.

www.cinematicparadox.com

friends with Aurelia and Jamie…what a love story. Despite the language barrier and bleak situations, they both knew what they had to do. In the end they found love…swoons. You know they are truly committed to each other, not like his lying cheating ex-girlfriend and brother.

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Welcome to Take Two of October’s Secret Subject Swaps. This week 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

My subject is “What do you do really well that probably shouldn’t go on your resume? (Get your mind out of the gutter, or keep it there) Start dishing!”. It was submitted by http://followmehome.shellybean.com

1) making faces to express my true feelings…I wish I could control it, but I can’t. The woman in front of me with skirt so high that I can see everything…yeah that is pure disgust on my face. The woman who kept turning her car around the gas pump yet kept ending up with the gas tank facing in the wrong direction…yes that look means you’re an idiot. The girl who kept being mean to Anthony at the train museum and the grandmother who just sat there and did nothing…yup that look means you’re granddaughter is a c### in training and you’re useless f###.

2) making fart noises…yes I am a mom of a boy and even though my son is not in the car at the moment I am still making fart noises. Deal with it people.

3) yelling at the top of my lungs...Sometimes I need to yell, in my car, in my pillow, at my husband, or just to yell to release stress. Go ahead, you know you want to.

4) vivid and detailed movies of me beating up and telling off anyone who annoys me. That car that almost hit me…I can picture myself racing up next to him, driving him off the road, pulling him out the car and locking him in the trunk. The woman in front of me on line asking the stupidest questions known to human kind and wasting everyone’s time…I can picture myself telling her to shut the f### up or grow a brain. The two men, a sales clerk and a customer arguing while I just wanted to pay for my purchase…yup I saw myself yelling for them to shut up and stop trying to out do each other, they both have small minds and other small things and to just let me pay.

5) walking into any situation and trying to find the best place to hide, or what to use as a weapon if something were to happen. Nowadays with all this evil in the world I need to be prepared to protect my son by any means necessary. It’s sad that this has to even cross my mind.